For University of Louisville sophomore cornerback Terell Floyd, there's only one right way to start 2013 — with a win against No. 4 Florida in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night.

"This is a really big steppingstone for us," said Floyd, a Port St. Lucie High School graduate. "This Florida game is like our first game toward next season. I really think this game will determine how next year goes.

"We all know this is a big game, and we really need this game."

The Cardinals are ranked No. 22 in the nation and won the Big East title, despite losing two of their past three games.

The Sugar Bowl will be Louisville's first Bowl Championship Series game since 2006.

Floyd spoke with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers about the Cardinals' season, playing for coach Charlie Strong and taking on the Gators.

Q: What was the regular season like for you?

A: The season was a big learning experience for me. The big (nine-game) winning streak and being ranked in the top 10 was a new experience for us. It's hard to explain, but I would say the season was very fun. The team was more together this year and we wanted it more this year. We realized how good we are and we're starting to grow as a program.

Q: What makes Strong such a good coach?

A: It's what he gets from his players, and we really believe in coach Strong. What he tells us, everybody buys in. He knows how to get people to follow him. He's a good coach.

Q: How much of a factor was Strong in your decision to go to Louisville?

A: It was a big, big factor. Coach Strong called (Port St. Lucie) coach (Hilary) Poole personally to tell him they were offering me. He really cares about his players, and he continues to show that care.

Q: Is it difficult to hear his name mentioned in coach openings?

A: It's kind of hard. You see stuff on ESPN, but we believe and we trust coach Strong. He told us to have faith in him and that's what we did.

Q: You played in a bowl game last year (Louisville lost to N.C. State 31-24 in the Belk Bowl), but does a BCS bowl have a different feel to it?

A: The biggest difference is that for this bowl game, I feel like we had way more time to prepare. Last year, the game was on (Dec.) 27th, which made it tough to try to watch film and feel like you really know a team. I feel like I'm way more prepared this time. I started watching Florida film a couple days after the Rutgers game (on Nov. 29).

Q: When you watch Florida's offense, what jumps out to you?

A: They like to run the ball. They're going to try to run the ball with No. 23 (senior running back Mike Gillislee) and do some wildcat stuff with Trey Burton.

Q: Did you grow up a Gators fan?

A: No. I grew up a big Miami guy. I didn't like Florida at all.

Q: How big of an opportunity is this for you and Louisville?

A: It's an opportunity to show the world what we're about and this is a big opportunity for me to come in a big-time game and make plays. We really want to beat Florida because we know if we beat Florida we can talk about big things for next year. We just need to get that win on the 2nd.